First Reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu "Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to Restore Support for Youth School Sports" (405 OE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-05-29 23:38
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 31
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 41m
AI Summaries: 31/31 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Agenda item 8 concerned the initial reading of the Riigikogu decision, "Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to Restore Support for Youth School Sports," submitted by the Estonian Centre Party faction. The rapporteur was Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart. The most important topic was the change in school sports funding and its long-term effects: the Ministry of Culture's decision to exclude the Estonian School Sports Union and other umbrella organizations from funding and distribute the money directly to county sports associations and schools. The discussion focused on how the new funding structure affects the organization of school sports, the continuation of competitions, and the inclusion of inactive children. It was also discussed whether and how to find the necessary additional funds, besides the sugar tax and alternative measures, and whether the existing system is sustainably functional. Agenda item 9 was the wish presented by Isamaa not to recognize the results of the Russian presidential elections, but the discussion could not be opened because one faction failed to provide a rapporteur, and the sitting was consequently unable to proceed.
Decisions Made 2
The Riigikogu voted on agenda item 8, Draft Bill 405: 10 votes in favor, 40 against; the bill was rejected. The necessary majority of affirmative votes required for the adoption of the bill was not reached.
Agenda Item 9 was not opened; the discussion did not take place due to the lack of quorum of the Plenary; no separate decision was made regarding this Final Act.
Most Active Speaker
The most active participant was Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart (Center Party). She belongs to the left, or more specifically, the left-center bloc (on the left wing). She primarily steered the debate and presented the core arguments regarding the necessity of restoring support for youth school sports and the need for a critical review of the funding structure, by highlighting the historical role of the school sports association and drawing comparisons with changes in funding over time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar introduced today's eighth agenda item and invited Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to present the draft of the first reading of the Riigikogu resolution titled "Proposal to the Government of the Republic to restore support for youth school sports."
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart emphasizes that the draft bill includes an alternative package to the sugar tax, but its implementation requires the restoration of funding for the school sports association and nationwide coordination. This is because the previous funding made school sports accessible to thousands of students, and the current county-based distribution jeopardizes the opportunities for physical activity for both active and inactive children.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter and invited questions, giving Andrei Korobeinik the opportunity to ask a question.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik asks whether the sugar tax is sufficient for improving children's health, or if additional measures are needed, such as supporting school sports.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker emphasizes that tax policy is not social policy, criticizes the lack of car tax exemptions for disabled people and large families, notes as a paradox that the sugar tax does not automatically make children's lifestyles healthier, points out that cheap beverages are often more accessible to low-income families, and emphasizes the need for additional state and local government funding to increase youth physical activity, adding that the Centre Party faction submitted the entire package, not just one bill, taking into account various directions and funding sources.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Aleksei Jevgrafov to speak.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He thanks the Speaker of the Riigikogu, asks Anastassia to state how much money this decision requires, and then poses Kaja Kallas’s favorite question: where are we going to get the money?
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart stated that the funding for school sports is disproportionate (311,000 euros for school sports versus approximately 500,000 euros for recreational physical activity). To find additional funds, she proposes generating 500 million euros in revenue from reforming the income tax for the wealthy, specifically by abandoning the plan to abolish the promised tax hump, since the bank tax and digital tax failed to gain support, and reducing bureaucracy will not solve the funding problem.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Vadim Belobrovtsev to the stage.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is debating the change in the school sports funding model: the money now flows to schools via a bottom-up approach, and the schools themselves decide if and when to bring in established partners. He questions whether this solution will actually improve infrastructure or just cause more chaos.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The School Sports Association, boasting over 30 years of experience and serving as the central link between local municipalities, educational institutions, and sports clubs, is criticizing the Ministry of Culture's reallocation of funds. This criticism stems from the fact that smaller municipalities receive less money, no impact assessment is carried out, and there is no consideration of whether competent coordinators are available in every county and school, thereby casting doubt on the principle of bottom-up governance.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the respected rapporteur and asked Riigikogu member Tanel Tein to introduce the discussion that had taken place in the Riigikogu Culture Committee.
Tanel Tein
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Riigikogu Culture Committee discussed Draft Resolution 405 and heard how a change in funding led to the redirection of approximately 0.5 million euros from the funding of nationwide inter-school sports competitions directly to member organizations. This raised concerns regarding support for youth school sports, and the Centre Party faction submitted a proposal for reinstatement, moving the draft resolution to the plenary session for a final vote, where it passed by a majority.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The server is thanked, and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart is invited to ask her question.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The presentation highlighted that 3x3 basketball is one of the most popular sports among schoolchildren (with approximately 11,000 children participating for years), and questioned whether the Ministry of Culture's decision to discontinue central funding is fair, or if it should be restored.
Tanel Tein
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Commission was informed that the Ministry of Culture's objective is to get as many children as possible involved in sports, but the Estonian School Sports Union has primarily functioned as a calendar keeper and event organizer. While 11,000 children have participated through the Union, the remaining 50% still need to be brought into sports activities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called upon Aleksei Jevgrafov to speak.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She thanks the chair of the session and asks Tanel whether the school system as a whole was discussed during the session, whether it needs changing, or if everything is currently fine and functioning well.
Tanel Tein
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He said that changing the system was not discussed, but new ways must be found to involve the remaining 50%. They also need to start teaching sports education to children and providing information to parents, because parents are the ones who guide children into extracurricular activities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the rapporteur, announces that there are no further questions, opens the debate, and invites Vadim Belobrovtsev to the Riigikogu podium to speak on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev criticizes the Ministry of Culture's decision to terminate funding for school sports and Jõud, emphasizing that distributing the money directly to county sports associations or schools could ruin a system that has functioned well for years, potentially leading to the failure of targeted spending and funds being left unused, citing Tallinn's 100,000 euro grant agreement as an example.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requested three more minutes of extra time.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev is calling for the restoration of school sports funding for the Estonian School Sports Union as a better alternative to the sugar tax. He also stresses that the tax will not reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, and therefore, according to his faction, the bill should be adopted.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the audience and invites Kristina Šmigun-Vähi to speak next on behalf of the Reform Party Faction.
Kristina Šmigun-Vähi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kristina Šmigun-Vähi emphasized that, for the sake of children’s and youth health, coordinated physical activity must be strengthened through county sports associations, which possess the best contacts and knowledge for regional implementation and are capable of engaging less active children. She added that although state subsidies will be fully directed to county associations starting in 2024, the activities of school and national umbrella organizations must not cease, and the structure needs to be adapted to the economic conditions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks if the participants want extra time.
Kristina Šmigun-Vähi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kristina Šmigun-Vähi stated that she did not wish to elaborate, would only take 30 seconds, and did not support the Reform Party faction's initiative concerning the Centre Party.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
I am concluding the discussions and bringing Bill 405, submitted by the Centre Party faction, to a final vote. The purpose of this bill is to restore funding for youth school sports.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu decided that 10 members were in favor, 40 against, and there were no abstentions; Draft Bill 405 was consequently rejected, and the discussion of the Isamaa faction's Draft Bill 395, which was the next item on the agenda, could not commence due to the absence of the rapporteur, Urmas Reinsalu. He apologized, which rendered the discussion impossible and resulted in the agenda item remaining unopened, after which Tanel Kiik raised a question concerning the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asks whether they can find another representative for the draft bill, or if only one person is required to give the presentation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stated that although the opportunity exists, the Isamaa faction has failed to find it, and therefore the impossibility of discussion has arisen, making it impossible to open the agenda item.